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Helene, which has now weakened to a post-tropical cyclone, has wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States, causing billions of dollars in damage and leaving over three million residents without power as the weekend approaches.

The storm made landfall late Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region, bringing winds of up to 140 mph. It rapidly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, uprooting trees, damaging homes, and causing rivers to overflow, leading to serious flooding and strained dams.

Western North Carolina has been particularly hard hit, with landslides and flooding cutting off access to the region. Interstate 40 and other major roads have been closed due to the treacherous conditions. In a dramatic rescue operation in rural Unicoi County, East Tennessee, dozens of patients and staff were airlifted from a hospital surrounded by floodwaters.

The National Hurricane Center reports that Helene is expected to linger over the Tennessee Valley through the weekend, with several flood warnings still in effect for parts of the southern and central Appalachians. High wind warnings have also been issued for areas in Tennessee and Ohio. Tragically, at least 44 fatalities have been reported across several states, including three firefighters and a woman and her one-month-old twins.

In North Carolina, evacuations were ordered after a lake overtopped a dam, though officials reported no immediate danger of dam failure. Newport, Tennessee, with a population of approximately 7,000, also faced evacuations due to concerns about a nearby dam. Tornadoes spawned by the storm caused critical injuries in Nash County, North Carolina.

Atlanta experienced a record-breaking rainfall of 28.24 centimeters within 48 hours, the highest two-day total since record-keeping began in 1878, according to Georgia’s Office of the State Climatologist. Some neighborhoods were submerged, with only car roofs visible above the floodwaters.

Economic damage estimates range from €13.5 billion to €23.5 billion, according to Moody’s Analytics. Climate change is believed to have exacerbated conditions that allow storms like Helene to rapidly intensify.

In the Big Bend region, where expansive salt marshes and pine flatwoods exist, the storm has left residents like Susan Sauls Hartway searching for their homes. “It’s gone. I don’t know where it’s at. I can’t find it,” she lamented, expressing concern for her community’s future amid rising housing prices.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed over 1,500 workers to assist with rescues and recovery efforts. President Joe Biden expressed his prayers for the survivors, while officials urged residents to avoid floodwaters due to hidden dangers like live wires and debris.

As recovery efforts unfold, North Carolina faces warnings of flooding that could surpass anything seen in the past century, with officials emphasizing that the impacts of Helene will be felt for many days and weeks to come.

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Greta Thunberg Arrested in Brussels During Climate Protest Against EU Fossil Fuel Subsidies

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Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested by Belgian police on Saturday during a protest in Brussels aimed at demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies by the European Union. The demonstration, organized by ‘United for Climate Justice’ and ‘Extinction Rebellion,’ saw activists block a key road just a few kilometres from the European Parliament and European Commission buildings.

Thunberg, along with dozens of other demonstrators, was surrounded by police during the protest. Several activists were detained, while onlookers chanted “you are not alone” in support of those being arrested. The protest is part of ongoing actions pressuring the EU to phase out subsidies for the oil and gas industry.

Last week, ‘United for Climate Justice’ sent an open letter to the European Union and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for immediate action to halt fossil fuel subsidies. Although von der Leyen has previously called for phasing out these subsidies, reports show that the EU continues to spend more than €100 billion annually on the fossil fuel industry.

The letter outlined three key demands: setting a timeline to phase out subsidies by 2025, adopting comprehensive methodological guidance for EU member states, and creating a framework for transparency and accountability. Protesters argue that these measures are essential for addressing the growing climate crisis.

Angela Huston Gold, a spokesperson for ‘United for Climate Justice,’ explained the group’s motivation for protesting. “The climate crisis has reached catastrophic and deadly levels,” she said in a statement to Euronews. “The European Commission has committed to stop subsidising the fossil industries in the 8th Environmental Action Programme (EAP), yet continues to support oil and gas with hundreds of billions of euros in subsidies each year.”

Gold emphasized the need for multiple forms of activism, including marches, letters, lawsuits, and civil disobedience, to hold the EU accountable. “We know they [the European Commission] will not listen unless we disrupt and call attention to the issue,” she added.

The group plans to continue and escalate its efforts across Europe, with further protests and actions expected later in October. Stickers advertising upcoming demonstrations were distributed during the Brussels protest, signaling the movement’s determination to push for greater climate action.

Thunberg’s arrest comes as she continues to lead global efforts to challenge governments and institutions on their environmental policies, urging swift and meaningful action to combat the climate emergency.

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Study: Nearly Half of UK Toddlers’ Calories Come from Ultra-Processed Foods, Raising Long-Term Health Concerns

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A new analysis reveals that nearly half of the calories consumed by toddlers in the United Kingdom come from ultra-processed foods, which are linked to poor health outcomes later in life. According to the study conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL), 47% of the calories in the diets of two-year-olds come from ultra-processed foods, a figure that rises to 59% by the time children reach the age of seven.

Ultra-processed foods are industrially produced items typically high in fat, sugar, and salt. Common examples include ready-to-eat meals, breakfast cereals, yoghurts, biscuits, sausages, chips, and pre-sliced bread. These foods are associated with increased risks of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, mental health issues, and cancer in adulthood.

The study, which tracked the diets of nearly 2,600 children, was published in the European Journal of Nutrition. Parents were asked to document their children’s food intake over several days, which researchers then classified into categories ranging from unprocessed foods, such as milk or vegetables, to ultra-processed items containing multiple additives.

The study found that toddlers most commonly consumed ultra-processed items such as flavoured yoghurts, high-fibre cereals, and whole grain breads. By age seven, their intake shifted towards puddings, sweet cereals, and white bread.

While not all ultra-processed foods are inherently unhealthy, many products marketed as healthy options contain high levels of added sugars and salts, the researchers warned. Dr. Rana Conway, the study’s lead author and a nutritionist at UCL, highlighted the challenges parents face when trying to provide healthy diets for their children in today’s food environment.

“It’s not easy to feed children healthily in our current food environment,” Conway said. “Highly processed foods are often cheaper than the foods parents would like to give their children, such as fresh fruit and vegetables.”

The study divided toddlers into five groups based on their ultra-processed food consumption. At the lowest level, 28% of their calories came from these foods, while at the highest level, 69% of their calories were derived from ultra-processed products. Children across all groups consumed more added sugar than the 5% recommended by the UK government.

The researchers called for policy changes to address the issue, such as adding warning labels on food packaging and introducing subsidies for healthier food options to support parents.

The study also noted that white and higher-income individuals were overrepresented, limiting the generalizability of the findings across the UK population.

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Lebanese Hospitals Halt Operations Amid Israeli Strikes, Dozens of Health Workers Killed

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At least four hospitals in Lebanon have suspended operations amid ongoing Israeli strikes, while a Hezbollah-linked health organization reported that 11 paramedics were killed within the past 24 hours. The closures mark an escalating crisis as Israeli airstrikes continue to hit healthcare facilities across the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Israeli attacks over the past two weeks have forced at least 37 hospitals to shut down and killed dozens of medical workers. Late on Friday, the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of using medical vehicles for military purposes, warning that any suspected vehicle could be targeted.

In southern Lebanon, hospitals have borne the brunt of the attacks. Dr. Mounes Kalakish, director of Marjayoun Governmental Hospital, told the BBC that his hospital had to close after an airstrike hit two ambulances at the hospital’s entrance, killing seven paramedics. “The nurses and doctors were terrified. We tried to continue, but it was impossible,” he said.

The hospital had already been struggling with a skeleton crew of only 20 doctors, down from its usual 120 staff members. Dr. Shoshana Mazraani, the hospital’s emergency director, described hearing the cries of paramedics after the strike but was warned by colleagues to stay back, fearing further attacks. The closure of Marjayoun is seen as a “tragedy for the region,” said Dr. Mazraani, who emphasized the hospital’s vital role in serving surrounding villages and providing specialized services like dialysis.

Elsewhere, Saint Therese Hospital, located on the edge of Beirut, also suspended services after being heavily damaged in a strike. Other hospitals are continuing to operate under dire conditions, with Dr. Mohammed Hamadeh of Tebnine Hospital saying a nearby blast shook the building, forcing them to limit operations for safety reasons.

Late Friday, Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil announced its closure after being “violently shelled,” following orders from the Israeli army to evacuate. The Israeli military stated that its target was a nearby mosque allegedly used by Hezbollah fighters.

The strikes have not been confined to southern Lebanon. On Thursday, Israeli forces hit a medical center in central Beirut belonging to the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Organization, killing nine and injuring 14. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted “terror assets.”

The Lebanese Red Cross also reported that four of its paramedics were wounded while evacuating patients, despite coordinating with the Israeli military. Gabriel Karlsson, country manager for the British Red Cross in Beirut, stressed that health workers must be protected, stating, “Teams from the Red Cross and Red Crescent are a lifeline – they must be protected.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern over the rising toll on healthcare workers, reporting that 28 health staff were killed in Lebanon in a single day. Many healthcare workers are now avoiding hospitals due to safety concerns.

Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad said on Thursday that 97 rescue workers have been killed since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated last October. More than 40 of these deaths occurred in the past week alone.

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